12
Feb
2010
San Miguel Food Market Madrid
The San Miguel Market (Mercado de san Miguel) in Madrid is an exciting culinary and entertainment addition to the centre of Madrid, long overdue. Very overdue in fact. The building sat empty for over 10 years. It has been beautifully renovated and the food displays are a pleasure to look at as well as feast on. You can sip on champagne while sliding back freshly shucked oysters or grab a tray of tapas and a beer to enjoy under the high ceilings of the light and airy interior.
If you go on the weekend, try to arrive outside of 2:30 to 3:30 when it gets a little bit crazy – but if you arrive at peak hour, the insiders trick is to enter through the “back door”, the entrance farthest from plaza mayor where there is more space than the hordes realize. We found a space even with pram in tow.
San Miguel Market and Surrounding Buildings
A weekday evening is probably the best time to go to enjoy the oyster and champagne experience and sit at the stool of the stores. On the weekend you can grab tapas and take it to the first place you find to sit as well as select from several stores selling cocktails. Leave room for dessert so you can take indulge in one of the totally scrumptious cakes from the V for Vienna pastelería. I tried their sponge cakes and they were to DIE FOR. I also wrestled a sample of the apple strudel from a friend and he had to fight me to get back the rest. It’s that good.
Lofty ceilings and lots of foodie action
Also, don’t miss the little bookstore in the back corner. Cookbooks with genuinely Spanish, every day cuisine in English are very difficult to come by and this shop has some gems.
[...] Plaza Mayor you should visit the newly restored San Miguel Market (there’s a full post on it here). A beautifully restored building and great place to snack gourmet style and reward yourself with [...]